Searching

Searching is a riveting, mesmerizing, fascinating and terrifying ride that audiences have rarely seen before. An agonizing mystery presented in a way that is both so natural & relevant, Searching is simply brilliant. Some viewers may deem Searching‘s ambitious packaging as a “gimmick” but those audience members will be missing the point. Searching provides a narrative that is not only deeply emotional but also highlighting many social themes, most of which are elevated to new heights by the film’s extreme delivery. Searching authentically captures dichotomies of the internet, such as connection/isolation and infinity/claustrophobia.

Beyond the perfect direction, cinematography and editing, Searching also contains some of the best acting put on screen this year. John Cho & Debra Messing bring essential performances that ensure the seemlessness of the movie overall. Yes, Searching is a technical marvel but the film succeeds only because of it has excellent sound, scoring, and writing as well. In the end, Searching is a masterful display of hiding powerful punches in innocuous settings.